Lt. Col. Michael E. "Mack" McLaughlin, 44, of 8238 Lamor Road, Mercer, in East Lackawannock Township, Mercer County, died in combat at 1:55 a.m. Jan. 5 in Ramadi, Iraq.

He was a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard for nearly 26 years and was the first officer of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard to die in action since World War II.

He began his military career as an ROTC cadet and was commissioned a second lieutenant in May 1982 at Clarion University.

During his military career, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Reserves Components Overseas Training Ribbon and the Field Artillery Honorable Order of Saint Barbara.

Born Oct. 29, 1961, in Munich, Germany, he was the son of Daniel P. and Carol Gerarge McLaughlin.

He was a 1980 graduate of West Forest High School in Tionesta and has degrees in industrial management, industrial engineering and a master's degree in business administration, all from the University of Pittsburgh.

Lt. Col. McLaughlin was the president of MARC Builders, a business he owned in Mercer.

He was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Mercer. He also belonged to the Butler American Legion Post 117, the Mercer VFW, the Zem Zem Shrine of Erie, the Scottish Rite of New Castle, the Mercer County Wheel Patrol and the Pollock Lodge 502 F&AM.

He married Tamera Fedele on Aug. 14, 1982, who survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Ericha and Erin McLaughlin, both at home; his parents of Tionesta; a sister, Rebecca Laubach and her husband, Russell, of Mars; and a brother, Christopher McLaughlin and his wife, Melanie, of Tidioute.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents and three cousins, Joseph McLaughlin, Michael Morrow and Thomas Burnatowski.

McLAUGHLIN — Friends of Lt. Col. Michael E. "Mack" McLaughlin, who died Jan. 5 will be received from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the CUNNINGHAM FUNERAL HOME, 144 S. Pitt St., Mercer. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Mercer, with the Rev. James Kennelley, church pastor, and Chaplain Maj. Doug Etter officiating.A full military service will follow at St. Peter Cemetery in Butler Township.A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 20 at St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church, Tionesta.Memorial donations may be made to Phone Cards For Our Troops Serving in Iraq, c/o Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 100 Penn Ave., Mercer, PA 16137; See Your Troops Foundation, P.O. Box 25656, Rochester, N.Y. 14625; Operation Lifeline, c/o Christ Lutheran Church, 1302 E. Washington St., New Castle, PA 16101; Operation Troop Appreciation, P.O. Box 14550, Pittsburgh, PA 15234; or to a charity of the donor's choice.